"No need for Antrim library closures": Lawther

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 21st Apr 2005

Alliance local government candidate, Alan Lawther, has stated there is 'simply no need' for library closures in Antrim.

The Antrim South East representative stated: "The library is a valuable resource for the local community and the consultation meeting has indicated there needs to be a reworking of the Education Board's review document.

"Our calculations are that if per-capita library expenditure in Antrim were raised even just to the Northern Ireland average, the extra money would be enough to avoid any closures.

"Indeed, figures for Templepatrick Library figures are calculated using only Templepatrick's population base, yet the library serves people from much further afield. And if the figures for the use of the library were calculated per-hour rather than per-day, given the library's relatively short opening hours we would find that the library performs close to the Northern Ireland average.

"As a Councillor I will not allow Antrim District to slip to the bottom of the library league table. We aim to keep all educational and social resources open to the public."

ENDS